Machine for reducing pithy plants.



No. 636,623. Patented Nov. 7, |899.

E. S. BRADFORD.

MACHINE FR REDUGING PITHY PLANTS.

(Application :Bled Nov. 15, 189B.) (Nu Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet l'.

w/TNEssEs VEA/ron W1, Q m /ML @La ArroH/VEYS we cams news co. puuoumu., WASHINGTON. u c.

' No. 636,623. Patented Nov. 7, |699.

' E. s. BRADFORD.

MACHINE FOR HEDUCING PITHY PLANTS.

(Application led Nov. 15, 1898.) (MMudelL) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W/TNESSES /NVENT/ Wd. 5MM Y @n ma mams varias co1. monmumo. wAsNmnToN n.

No. 636,623. Patented Nov. 7,1699. E. S. BRADFORD.

MACHINE FOR REDUCING PITHY PLANTS.

(Application led Nov. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

w/TNEssES /N VEA/T06 o. ATTORNEYS W@ MWL W No. 636,623. Patented Nov. A7, |899.

' E. S. BRADFORD.

MACHINE FUR BEDUCING PITHY PLAN-TS.

` (Application led Nov. 15, 1898.) r (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

No. 636,623'. Patented Nov. 7, |899. E. S. BRADFORD.

MACHINE FOR REDUCING PITHY PLANTS.

(Appumioh mea Nav. 15, 1a9a.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5,

(No Nudel.)

INI/EN TH WITNESS mi Nomus rsTsRs co, mmm Iwo. msn

Patented Nav. 7, 189'9. E. s. BnAnFonn. MACHINE FOB REDUGING PITHY PLANTS.

(Application led Nov. 15, 1898.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

l/V VENTOH A TTOHWE YS.

EUGENE S. BRADFORD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR REDUCING PITHY PLANTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,623, dated November *7, 1899.

Application filed November l5, 1898. Serial No. 696,496. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE S. BRADFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented certain new and' useful Improvements in Machines for the Reduction of Pithy Plants, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of the present invention is to produce a simple, economical, and effective machine for severing the fibrous outer shell or shive from the inner pithy portions of the stalks of corn and other pit-hy plants to facilitate the separation of the fibrous portions from the pithy portions of such plants for commercial uses.l

To this end my invention consists, broadly, of a plurality of saws or cutting devices arranged around a common central path of work, means for feeding plant-stalks along the central path of work to the saws or cutting devices, and mechanism automatically following and controlled by the contour of the plant-stalks and regulating the operation of the saws or cutting devices upon the plantstalks.

More specically, the invention comprises in its preferred embodiment a plurality of continuously-driven band-saws arranged in pairs in parallel planes and extending approximately tangential to a common central path of work, toand from which the saws are automatically movable to operate upon plant-stalks of varying sizes, and a plurality of feed-rolls arranged around the common central path of Work and automatically movable to and from the path of work to engage the varying sizes of plant-stalks and feed them to the band-saws. A second series of feed-rolls may also be provided beneath the band-saws to assist in delivering the core of pith and slivers of shell or husk.

The machine is preferably arranged in circular form, with a central passage-way for the plant-stalks, a circular series of drivingshafts arranged concentrically to the central passage-Way and driven by a common driving-shaft, and the band-saws and feed-rolls arranged around the passage-way and suitably geared to and rdriven by said circular series of shafts. The band-saws and feedrolls are mounted upon independent springpressed arms, Which are automatically moved inwardly toward the line of feed by the action of their springs and outwardly by the action of the plant-stalks. The 'supportingarms of the band-saws carry adjustable gagedogs which engage the passing plant-stalks and by following the longitudinal contour of the varying sizes of stalks automatically maintain the saws in proper position to sever slivers of the shell or husk of a predetermined thickness, notwithstanding the dierence in shape and thickness of the successive sections of plant-stalk. The gage-dogs are preferably adjusted to sever slivers of sufficient thickness to remove all or nearly all of the brous shell from the core of pith.

The supporting-arms of the band-saws and feed-rolls are provided with suitable adjusting devices for regulating the action of their springs and confining their automatic Inovements in following the varying sizes of plantstalks. The plant-stalks are fed longitudinally through the machine, and the saws or -cutters engage the stalks approximately tangentially and sever the outer brous shell or husk in strips or slivers from the inner pithy core of the stalks, the slivers of shell or husk and the core of pith being delivered at the common outlet to be afterward separated and treated in any desired manner, depending tional elevation of my improved machine,

parts being omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the series of adjustably-supported bandsaws, the cover of the machine being removed and the feeding devices omitted. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the series of adjustablysupported toothed feeding-rolls, the cover of machine being removed and the band-saws omitted. Fig. 4 is a complete plan view with the cover removed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine with the bed-plate and supported cutting devices and feeding devices removed and the circular series of driving-shafts shown in section. Fig. G is a detail vertical seotional view showing the driving-shaft and part of adjustable supportingarm of one of the band-saws. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the driving-shaft and part of adjustable su pporting-arm of one of the feed-rolls. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the inner' end of the adjustable supporting-arm of one of the bandsaws, showing the adjustable gage dog or finger thereon. Fig. 9 is a detail edge view of the saine. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on the line 10 10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional plan view showing one of the adjusting devices which regulate the position and operation of the arms which support the bandsaws and feed-rolls.

The machine-frame may be of any suitable shape to properly support the operative parts of my improved machine. I have shown a frame in circular form comprising a circular body l, having an external ange 2, an inwardly-projecting wall or iiange 3, having a central opening 4, a main bed-plate 5, having a central feed-opening f5 and supported upon the upright arms 1 of body 1, and an inclosing shell or casing 7, tting over the machine and resting upon a shoulder S, formed in the face of body 1. The bed-plate 5 has radial feet 5, formed with tongues 5b, which engage in grooves or recesses 1b, formed in the upper faces of radial flanges 1d of uprights 1 of frame l, the fianges l(1 and uprights l being strengthened by ribs 1C. The tongue and grooves 5b 1b serve to locate the bed-plate 5 and supported mechanism in proper position with relation to the center ot' the machine. The casing 7 has a central inlet feed-opening f) in its upper end. The frame preferably rests over an opcninglO of a table or platform 11, the fiange 2 resting upon the table 0r platform.

15 is a tubular body formed with an exterf nal iiange 1G and resting in central opening 4 of the wall 3 of the frame, the flange 1G being secured to the wall 3 by set-screws or bolts 17.

The tubular body 15 constitutes the outlet or delivery passage oft' the machine and also forms a journal-bearing for the main driving-gear 1S, formed integral with its hub 19, which is journaled upon the cylindrical body 15 and is provided at its lower edge with integral bevel-gear 20.

21 is a small bevel-gear keyed to the inner end of the main driv'ingshaft 22, which is journaled in the bracket'bearing 23, depending from the main frame of the machine.

15 is a collar secured to the lower end of' the tubular body 15 for confining the integral gears 1S and 2O upon their journal.

Projecting up from and formed integral with the main bedplate 5 are a series of circular flanges or bosses 25, 25, 25h, 25, and 25, which bosses vary in height, as will be seen from the drawings, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

26, 26, 27, 27, and 28 28 are inwardly-pro jecting saw-supporting arms, each of which is formed with a tubular bearing-hub 30, journaled in one of the bosses 25, 25, or 25", and formed with a threaded reduced lowerl end 31, receiving a nut 32, which engages the shoulder 31 of the hub 30 and the under face of the bed-plate 5 and confines the tubular hub 30 of the supporting-arm in its bearing in the boss and at the same time allows the tubular hub free rotary movement in its bearing-boss.

35 is one of a series of vertical drivingshafts journaled in the tubular hub 30 and in one of the bearing-bosses 36, formed integral with the wall or flange 3, each of the driving-shafts 35 having keyed to its upper end a flanged band wheel or pulley 37 and secured to its reduced lower end a pinion 38, the pinion 38 being confined upon the shaft 35 against shoulder 35 by means of nut 39 engaging the threaded reduced lower end of said shaft.

At theinner end of each of the supportingarms 2G, 26, 27, 27, 28, and 28 is journaled a flanged band wheel or pulley 40, and supported upon each pair of band wheels or pulleys 37 and 40 is an endless band-saw 41, which travels freely around the wheels or pulleys 37 and 40 and is driven by one of the shafts 35. Each of the said supporting-arms 26, tbc., is cut out at 42 to form a common central path of work ample for the passage between said arms of the plant-stalks which are to be reduced.

43 is a gage dog or iinger secured to each of the supporting-arms 26, dsc., (adjacent to cut-out 42,) by means of set-screws 44 and 45 passing through the gage-dog into the supporting-arm, the set-screw 45 passing through a transverse slot (indicated by dotted lines) in the gage dog or finger to allow for the adjustment of the dog or finger inwardly or outwardly upon the supporting-arm. The gagedog 43 is formed with a beveled or inclined face 43, with which the passing plant-stalks engage.

4G isa slotted guide upon the inner face of each of the supporting-arms 2G, dse., through which the band-saw passes adjacent to the inner band wheel orpulley 40 forthe purpose of more firmly supporting the band-saw while it is passing through the path of work. Each of the slotted guides 46 is provided with an antifriction-roll 47, supported in a recess cut in its face and resting in the bottom of the slot of said guide to engage the plain edge of the band-saw as it passes through the guide and support the saw and reduce its friction.

Projecting rearwardly from each of the tubular hubs 30 is a heel or lug 50, by which the supporting-arms are controlled.

5l is a ring or collar fitting around one of the bearing-bosses 25 or 25 and confined upon said boss by set-screw 52 and formed with integral bracket-arms 51 and 51", the arm 51L having a threaded opening through which passes an adjusting-screw 54, secured by a clampingnut 53, and the arm 5lb being IOO IIO

formed with asocket 55, in which rests a spiral spring 56, engaged by the disk 57, which is adjustably confined by the adjusting-screw 58, threaded in the end wall of the socket 55. The spring 56 engages the heel or lug 50 at one side for giving the supporting-arm 26 a tendency to move inwardly toward the central path of work of the machine, while the adjusting-screw 54 is adapted to engage the heel or lug for confining the movement of the supporting-arm 26 inwardly toward the path of work under the action of the spring 56. All of the supporting-arms and bandsaws carried thereby are of practically the same construction, and the above description applies equally as Well to all, with the following noted exceptions:

The individual saw-supporting arms extend inwardly from their bearing-bosses 25, 25, or 25b and extend slightly beyond the center of the machine approximately tangential to the common central path of work. The supporting-arms 26 and 6a constitute one pair extending upon opposite sides of the path of work in a plane transverse to the line of feed, the arms 27 and 27a constitute a second pair extending upon opposite sides of the path of work in a transverse plane lower than the plane of arms 26 and 26L1 and at an angle to said arms, and the arms 28 and 28a constitute a third pair extending upon opposite sides of the path of work in a still lower plane and at an angle to the arms 26, 26a, 27, and 27a. The bearing-bosses 25, 25a, and 25", which support the saw-supporting arms, vary in height for the dierent pairs to support them in their respective working planes, the bosses 25 for arms 26 and 26a being highest, the bosses 25 for arms 27 and 27 a little shorter, and the bosses 25b for arms 28 and 28L shortest of all and constituting mere flanges above the bed-plate 5. The springs 56 tend to move the several saw-supporting arms inwardly toward the central longitudinal line of the machine, in which line the plant-stalks are fed through the machine.

The inward tendency of the `saw-supportin g arms is limited by the adjusting-screw 54. The collar 5l, supporting adj usting-screw 54 and spring 55, as shown in detail in Fig. ll of the drawings, is clamped upon each of the four bosses 25 25a for the control of the upper two pairs of saw-supporting arms 26 26 and 27 27 5 but the bearing-bosses 25b of the lowest pair of supporting-arms 28 28a are not of sufficient height to receive the clampingrings 5l under the su pporting-arms, and it is necessary to provide other means for supporting the adjusting-screw 54 and spring 55. For this purpose I provide bracket-arms 5l`i and 51V, which are secured by set-screws ,z to the bed-plate 5 upon the opposite sides of bosses 25h. The adjusting-screw 54 and spring 55 are supported, respectively, in the arms 5lX and 515' upon opposite sides of the heel or lug 50 of each of the supporting-arms28 and 28at to control the operation of said arms and their saws, as above explained.

60a 60b 6l 6l 6lb are inwardly-projecting tubular supporting-arms formed with integral tubular bearing-hubs 63, journaled in the tubular bosses 25 and 25d and confined by nuts 64,v threaded upon the lower reduced ends of the bearing-hubs 63, which engage the 4shoulders 63a of the hubs and the under face of the bed-plate 5. Each of the supporting-arms 60, 60, 60h, 6l, 6l, and 6lb moves freely on its hub and has journaled in it a shaft 65, carrying` at its inner end a toothed feed-roll 66 and at its outer end a bevel-gear 67, meshing with a similar gear 68.

69 is one of a series of vertical shafts journaled in the tubular hub 63 and in the bearing-boss 36, said shaft having the bevel-gear 68 keyed to it. Secured to the lower end of each of shafts 69 is a pinion 70.

Each of the inwardly-projecting arms 60 has formed integral with it a bracket-arm 75, projecting over the upper reduced end of shaft 69 and having a bearing thereon and a heel 7 5 extending rearwardly therefrom to a point between the lugs 51a and 51b of the upwardly-projecting arm 51C, formed integral with the ring or collar 5l, which is secured to one of the tubular bosses 25c or 25d by set-- screw 52. The lugs 512L and 5l", supported from the ring or collar 51, are constructed as above described and shown in Fig. 11, supporting in their upper ends the adjustingscrew 54 and the adjustably-mounted spring 56, the screw and spring engaging upon opposite sidesof the heel 75qu for regulating the position and operation of the arms which support the feed-rollers.

It will be observed that the alternate feedrolls 66 are supported in dierent transverse planes above the saws or cuttingdevices, the feed-rolls supported by arms 60, 60a, and 60b being in the higher transverse plane and the feed-rolls supported by arm's 6l, 6l, and 6lb being in the lower planejustabove the plane of the saw-supporting arms 26 26a. The supporting-arms 60 60 60" 6l 6la 61h extend inwardly from their supporting-bosses 25C 25d approximately tangential to the common central path of work, and the feed-rolls are arranged around the path of work and rotate in vertical planes approximately radial to the path of work. The springs 56 tend to move the supporting-arms 60, 60, 60h, 61, 6l, and Gib inwardly to the central line of feed, causing the feed-rolls 66 to engage a plant-stalk and feed it down past the saws or cutting devices. The screws 54 limit the inward movement of the arms when there is no stalk passing between the feed-rolls. From Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings it will be observed that the saw-supporting arms 26, 26a, 27, 27, 28, and 28L extend from their bearings to the left of the feed-path, while the feed-roll-supporting arms 60, 60, 60h, 6l, 61a, and 6lb extend from their bearings to the right of the IIO feed-path. The result of this arrangement is that the saw-supporting arms 26 2Ga 27 27a 2S 2S will respectively be in approximately the same vertical planes as the feedroll-supportiug arms GO, Gl", Gl, GO, 60h, and 61, and a toothed feed-roll will engage the plant-stalks directly above the working section of each band-saw to insure the uniform feed of the stalks to the plurality of saws. With this arrangement the saws and feeding devices are nicely poised or equalized in the machine, a feature of considerable importance in the structure.

Beneath the planes of operation of the saws or cutting devices I provide another set of feeding devices, which assist in feeding the severed parts of the plant-stalks from the saws and delivering them through the delivery-tube 15. For this purpose I have shown three toothed feed-rolls 80, keyed to shafts 8l and supported equidistauce apart around the central feed-path of the plant-stalks. Each of the shafts Sl is journaled in a vertical bracket-arm 82, formed integral with a tubular head 83, from which brauch the bearing bracket-arms 84 S5, forming a yoke which embraces the meshing bevel-gears SG 87, keyed, respectively, to a short shaft 8S, journaled in the tubular head 83, and one of the upright feed -operating shafts 69. The bracket-arms 84 85 are both journaled upon shaft 69 and support the head 83 and arm 82 and allow them t-o be automatically adjusted upon shaft 69. Each of shafts 81 has a pinion 90, meshing with intermediate pinion 91, which in turn meshes with a pinion 92, keyed to the inner end of short shaft 88. Depending from bracket-arm 85 is a recessed lug 85, which rests between brackets 9-:1E and 95, integral with wall 3, and supports in its recess a spring 9S. The bracket 94 supports an adjusting-screw 97, which is adapted to engage the lug 85 at one side, and the bracket 95 abuts the spring 98, the screw 07 limiting the movement of arm 82 and head S3 under the action of spring 98. The spring 98 and screw 97 operate the same as the similar parts 54 and 5G for automatically regulating the operation of the feed-rolls.

The main driving-gear 18 meshes with the series of pinions 28 and 70 for continually driving the series of shafts 35 and 69 for operating feeding devices and saws or cutters.

The operation of the machine may be brieiiy described as follows: The stalks of corn orother similar plants are cut in sections ofthe desired length,and the sections of plantstalk are taken by hand and passed through the inlet-opening 9 of the casing and pressed into the bite of the feed-rolls GG, the feed-rollsupporting arms yielding sufficiently in an outward direction to receive the sections of plant-stalk between them. The toothed feedrolls engage the plant-stalk on all sides and feed it accurately longitudinally downward in the machine past the series of saws or cutting devices. The saws or cutting devices being arranged around the central path of the plant-stalk, it will be observed that the outer shell or husk of the stalk will be severed from the central core of pith in long strips or slivers. In the machine illustrated in the drawings I have represented three pairs of saws or cutting devices, each pair being in a different plane and the working portions of the saws describing around the core of pith a hexagonal ligure. Above each of the saws or cutters the gage dog or finger projects to engage the plant-stalk before it reaches the saw for the purpose of moving the supporting-arm and saw outwardly the required distance to sever from the particular size of stalk which is passing a strip or sliver of shell or husk of the desired thickness. Each saw-s upporting arm being independent under the control of its gage-dog, it will be observed that the shell or husk of the plantstalk will be removed equally on all sides. As the core and slivers pass the saws or cutting devices they are engaged by the delivery set of feeding-rollers and fed into the delivery-tube l5, from which they may fall into any suitable receptacle. (Not shown.) The core of pith which leaves the machine is of approximatelyheXagonalcross-section. The separated pith and fibrous portions of the plant-stalks may be taken and treated in any desired way, depending upon the use to which the products are to be placed.

It will be observed that the whole machine is driven from the driving-shaft- 22, which operates the main driving-gear 18, the individual upright shafts of the cutting and feeding devices being geared to said main driving-gear 18.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In amachine of the character described the combination of a guideway for plantstalks, means for feeding the stalks through said guideway, a series of driven cutters mounted tangentially on independent pivoted arms in different planes perpendicular to the line of feed and at different angles in such planes, so as to eut the outer shive of the stalks from the inner pithy portions, springs pressing the pivoted arms inwardl toward the central line of feed and gages carried by the pivoted arms in position to bear on the surface of the stalks and control the position of the cutters by the longitudinal contour of the stalk operated upon as eX- plained.

2. In a machine of the character described the combination of a longitudinal guideway for plant-stalks, a ser-ies of tangentially ar- IOO IIO

ranged and driven paired cutters mounted inlongitudinal contour of the stalk operated'on, as explained.

3. Inamachine of the character described, the combination of a longitudinal guideway, means for feeding plant-stalks longitudinally through such guideway, a series of pairs of tangentially arranged and driven cutters mounted independently on pivoted arms, springs pressing'the pivoted arms inward toward the central line of feed and gages carried by the arms, contacting With the surface of the stalks and controlling the position of the cutters by the longitudinal contour of the `stalk operated on, the cutters of each pair vibrating in one plane and the successive pairs in different planes perpendicular to the line of feed and cutting in different tangential planes so as to sever the entire shive or shell from the central part of the stalk, by successive cuts, as explained.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a suitable frame having a feedway for plant-stalks, a series ofinwardlyprojecting arms j ournaled in said frame, band wheels or pulleys journaled upon said arms, band-saws carried upon said Wheels or pulleys, and supported approximately tangential to the feedWay, and means for feeding plantstalks longitudinally to the band-saws, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a machine-frame having a central feedWay, a series of saws or cutting devices arranged around the feedway, a series of driving-shafts arranged around the feed- Way and operating the saws or cuttingdevices, a centrally-journaled gear operating the surrounding series of driving-shafts, and means for feeding plant-stalks in the feedWay, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a suitable frame having a central feed path or Way, a series of supporting-arms journaled around said feedway and extending approximately tangential thereto, band wheels or pulleys supported upon said arms, driving-shafts journaled around the journals of said supporting-arms, a central driving-gear operating said driving-shafts, band-saws su pported upon said band Wheels or pulleys, means for adjusting the position of the supporting-arms, and means for feeding plant-stalks through the machine, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for separating the outer portion of the stalks of pithy plants, aseries of spring-pressed arms arranged tangentially around a central path of Work, tangentiallyoperated cutting devices mounted on said spring-pressed arms and driven vfrom the axes of vibration of said arms, driving-shafts arranged around the central path of Work, inwardly-projecting shafts driven bysaid driving-shafts and toothed feed-rolls mounted on the inwardly-projecting shafts and operated thereby to advance the stalks to the cutting devices, as explained.

8. In a machine for removing the outer portion of the stalks of pithy plants, the combination of a series of spring-pressed arms arranged tangentially around a central path of Work, tangentially-operated cutting devices mounted on said spring-pressed arms, and driven from the axes 0f vibration of said arms, gages carried by said spring-pressed arms regulating the depth of cut by the external contour of the stalk, and a series of radiallyarranged toothed feed-rolls, mounted on in- Wardly-projecting driving-shafts and operating to feed the stalks to the cutters, as explained.

EU GENE S. BRADFORD.

IVitnesses:

WM. E. KNIGHT, M. V. BIDGooD. 

